SCOPE AND SEQUENCE FOR GRADES 6-12
2 Career Cruising for K-12 is a web-based self-exploration and planning program that includes skill and career assessments, 4-year planning tools, post-secondary school and job market information, exploration activities, an employment guide, and more. The My Plan digital portfolio allows students to document each stage of their career exploration process, think critically about their options, and build an individualized future readiness plan. Career Cruising for K-12 starts with an elementary program called Spark!, which integrates foundational, ageappropriate career education into the classroom. Once students enter 6th grade, the program consists of six main sections, each with a set of tools: Assessments, Careers, Education, Financial Aid, Employment, and My Plan. Combined, these sections help satisfy five key career guidance themes: self-awareness, career exploration, education planning, financial literacy and soft skills, and portfolio development. Note: Activity times outlined in this document are approximate. In-depth activity guides can be found in the Help section of Career Cruising or the Helpful Documents section of the Career Advisor Management System.
3 6 TH GRADE Self-Awareness Complete the first 39 questions of Matchmaker. (20-30 minutes) Complete the Learning Styles Inventory. Create a My Journal entry reflecting on the results. (30-45 minutes) Classroom Discussion Question: Were your assessment results what you expected? Discuss your matches with another student in class. Career Exploration Click suggested Matchmaker occupations to review Suitable for You? feedback and profiles. (15-20 minutes) Explore careers by keyword in the Careers section. (15-20 minutes) Watch one occupation profile video from each career cluster. Save Matchmaker and Learning Styles Inventory results (and My Journal entry). Save at least one career of interest. Add at least one hobby/interest and one extracurricular activity. Add at least one short-term and one long-term goal.
4 7 TH GRADE Self-Awareness Open previous Matchmaker results and answer more questions under Improve My Results. (20-30 minutes) Classroom Discussion Question: What are the educational pathways for your top three career suggestions? (Look in an occupation profile under Education.) Career Exploration Explore the top five occupations from Matchmaker results, including job description, earnings, education, sample career path, and Suitable for You? feedback. (20-30 minutes) In the Careers section, research careers by school subject. (20-30 minutes) Create a My Journal entry reflecting on why the careers saved are a good fit and questions about them. Save Matchmaker results. Save at least one career of interest. Review and add to hobbies, extracurricular activities, and goals. The Real Game Unit 1: Making a Living, sessions 1-3 (3.5 to 4 hours) Unit 2: Quality of Life, sessions 1-2 (4.5 to 7.5 hours) Unit 4: Personal Journey, sessions 1, 2, and 5 (3 to 4 hours)
5 8 TH GRADE Self-Awareness Start a new Matchmaker assessment and answer at least 39 questions. (20-30 minutes) Complete the My Skills assessment. (20-30 minutes) Career Exploration Click suggested Matchmaker occupations to review Suitable for You? feedback and profiles. (15-20 minutes) In the Careers section, research careers by cluster and by industry. (15-20 minutes) Education Planning Explore the Education section in occupation profiles of interest, either new or saved. (15-20 minutes) Based on career interests and goals, select 9th grade courses using Course Planner. (time varies) Based on My Skills results, write the top three skills to improve and ideas of how to do so. Complete one career planning activity and record in My Plan (attend a career fair, create a resume, etc.). Build a 4-year high school plan and share with a teacher/counselor for feedback. Write a My Journal entry about short-term and long-term career and education goals. Save Matchmaker and My Skills results. Save two careers and two clusters of interest. Add at least one skill/ability and new hobbies and extracurricular activities. Review and add at least one short-term and one long-term goal (and a My Journal entry). The Real Game Unit 3: Changes and Choices, sessions 1-4 (4 hours) Unit 4: Personal Journey, sessions 1, 2, and 5 (3 to 4 hours)
6 9 TH GRADE Self-Awareness Complete the Learning Styles Inventory and review study tips. (20-30 minutes) Classroom Discussion Question: Has your learning style changed since middle school? Career Exploration Use the Career Selector tool to research careers based on criteria and explore results. (20-30 minutes) Write a My Journal entry about saved and suggested careers and the pros and cons of each. (15-20 minutes) Education Planning In the Education section, review the College Planning Timeline. (10-15 minutes) Explore Schools and Majors by keyword in the Education section. (20-30 minutes) Complete 10th grade course selection using Course Planner and review/adjust 11th and 12th grade courses. (time varies) Using the information gathered about different careers, prepare a pamphlet, presentation, or report about one career or cluster of interest. Add at least one volunteer experience, work experience, award, or certificate and attach related files. Scan and add assignments. Save Learning Styles Inventory and Career Selector results. Save at least one career of interest and a My Journal entry. Save at least two majors and two schools of interest. Add or update hobbies, extracurricular activities, and goals. The Be Real Game Unit 1: Time Travel: Exploring The Future, sessions 1-6 (9-11 hours)
7 10 TH GRADE Self-Awareness Start a new Matchmaker assessment and answer 116 questions. (30-40 minutes) Career Exploration Click suggested Matchmaker occupations and review Suitable for You? feedback and profiles. (20-30 minutes) Complete one career planning activity and record it in My Plan (attend a college fair, create a resume, etc.) (time varies) Education Planning Complete the School Selector to research schools based on criteria and explore results. (20-30 minutes) Review educational requirements for career matches and search for Schools and Majors in the Education section. (30 minutes) Complete course selection for 11th grade using Course Planner and review/adjust 12th grade courses. (time varies) Look at skills needed for careers of interest and make a list of skills to work toward. Explore real-life job postings by clicking the Search for Jobs button in any occupation profile of interest. Explore national and local scholarships in the Financial Aid section and save two scholarships of interest. Save Matchmaker and School Selector results. Save at least two schools and two majors of interest. Add one additional skill, one hobby, and one extracurricular activity. Update goals and volunteer/work experience. Add one career-planning activity and attach related files (e.g. completion letter, notes). Under My Goals and Plans, update the Post-Secondary Plan. The Be Real Game Unit 2: The Personal Journey: Creating My Future, sessions 1-4, 6 (9-10 hours)
8 11 TH GRADE Self-Awareness Complete the My Skills assessment. (20-30 minutes) Complete the Ability Profiler test (administered by a teacher/ counselor time varies) Career Exploration Complete one additional career planning activity and record in My Plan (job shadow, practice SAT/ACT, etc.) (time varies) Under Employment, use Job Search to look up postings of interest. (20-30 minutes) Education Planning Complete the Financial Aid Selectorand explore results. (20-30 minutes) Review and rank saved schools and majors. Complete the Post- Secondary Plan and Personal College Profile. (60-90 minutes) Complete course selection for 12th grade. (time varies) Based on My Skills results, write the top three skills to improve and ideas of how to do so. Write a My Journal entry about Job Search findings. What positions were most appealing? What experience was needed? Start writing college essays using saved portfolio information. Save My Skills, Ability Profiler, and Financial Aid Selector results. Save at least two scholarships. Save Post-Secondary Plan and Personal College Profile. Review and add hobbies, interests, extracurricular activities, goals, volunteer/work experiences, awards and certificates. Add at least one additional skill or ability. Use the Resume Builder to create a resume and prepare a cover letter using tips from the Employment Guide. Save in My Files.
9 12 TH GRADE Self-Awareness Revisit the latest Matchmaker and My Skills assessment results and career matches. (20-30 minutes) Re-take assessments if necessary and review results and occupation profiles in detail. Career Exploration Review Career Selector results and re-take if needed. (20 minutes) Review goals and write about progress and next steps in My Journal. Education Planning Review School Selector results and list of saved schools, updating ranking if needed. (20-30 minutes) Review Financial Aid Selector results and list of saved scholarships, updating if needed. (20-30 minutes) Set up College Application Tracker for each school where applying. (30-45 minutes) Set up scholarship and financial aid trackers. (30-45 minutes) Review Post-Secondary Plan and Personal College Profile. (30 minutes) Request transcripts and recommendation letters. (time varies) Review draft of college essay and revise as required. Review and add hobbies, interests, extracurricular activities, volunteer and work experiences, awards, and certificates. Update resume and cover letter and save to My Files. Review Interview Skills and Work Search sections in the Employment Guide.